12 and 17 Two Juveniles, Taken into Custody in SE Marion Triple Homicide. Third Defendant is Pursued

Tuesday, April 11th, 2023, 7:53 PM reporting from Friday, April 7th, 2023, 6:09 PM-Ocala FL- Police have taken into custody two minor juveniles and are in pursuit of a third in connection with last week's triple homicide in southeast Marion. All three defendants are charged with first degree murder.

One of the defendants is 12 years old. He was arrest on Thursday at his home. An additional defendant, age 17, was taken into custody last week by Ocala Sheriff's Office deputies after the killing had occurred. He was taken into custody in relationship with a different case: a distribution at his school. He was already arrested in custody when the murder charges were issued.

The third defendant, minor age 16, is held at large Friday. A $10,000 reward was posted for information leading to his apprehension back into police custody.

School attendants commented by boys, 12 and 17, attended alternative school. They said they have blank records on the 16-year-old enrolling in school.

The Star-Banner is not releasing the juveniles identifies them because of their ages. Prior beginning coverage started: Third teen killed in SE Marion. 15 detectives on the case. Is a 'wannabe gang' responsible?

Earlier coverage: A dependable mystery another body has been found in SE Marion.

The interview of the 17-year-old defendant. The three victims- two 16-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy- were shot and killed at the same time on March 30, Sheriff Billy Woods announced Friday at the county Emergency Operations Center in Ocala. The bodies were discovered in separate Ocklawaha locations on March 30, 31, and April 1 near each other.

Other two victims were spotted laying by roadways, while the third victim was discovered in the trunk of a car that was potentially beneath the submergence body of water.

A mugshot was published by Sheriff Billy Woods where he pinpointed two defendants were taken into custody in the Ocklawaha triple murder case. He held a news correspondence Friday morning to announce the arrests and to ask the public's support in looking for the third defendant in the case.

Woods commented the two defendants in custody made incriminating statements about their involvement in the shootings. In the presence of his mother, the 17-year-old told detectives where the victims were seriously wounded by gunfire, later identified as one of the girls.

"She was still alive. She was going to snitch on us all. We were all going to go to jail for life," he said, according to the sheriff's office.

The deputies of the Sheriff's Office under Chief Sheriff Billy Woods have a theory the three defendants nad the three victims were involved in vehicle burglaries, a criminal habit syndicate known as "car hopping." In such cases, thieves work a region searching for unlocked vehicles.

Typically, there was including information involved about the investigation Wood refused to discuss and wouldn't disclose how many firearms were involved in the case. But he did say that one firearm was obtained by the defendants in a vehicle burglary.

Woods went to arguing his position that the robbery was the motive for the three murders, though he didn't enlighten the press. All six victims were together at the time of their killings.

"They took a life without a thought. They deserve a full extent of the law," Woods spoke during the news conference. At one point, he choked up when thanking his staff and the other police department agencies who are working on this investigation.

Layla Silvernail, was one of the 16-year-old victim that were shot and killed, was discovered in the area of Southeast 183rd Avenue Road by a man near a garbage container on March 30. Layla was still breathing, and an ambulance was contacted. She was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.

A female woman told sheriff officers she heard several gunshots, looked out her window, and noticed a car driving slowly north on Southeast 183rd Avenue Road. The vehicle slammed the garbage container.

The vehicle got away and the woman contacted her neighbor. The car was explained as an older model Chevrolet Cruze, according to an arrest affidavit.

The body of the 17-year-old boy was killed lying dead recovered in the southwestern corner of the intersection of Southeast 188th Court and 94th Street. He was approximately 3 feet from the dirt road. His father was able identify him when he went to the scene, officials commented.

Detectives believe the two defendants in custody as of Friday- the 17-year-old and the 12-year-old stole someone on March 30.

Interview with 12-year-old defendant. During the investigation, which included 15 detectives, sheriff's investigators retrieved multiple pieces of evidence including blood, clothing, cellphones, and shell casings. Other people were interviewed if they knew any knowledge in highlight of the crime committed. Police asked witnesses if they were familiar with the victims and defendants.

Deputies arrested the 12-year-old at his residence. He was interviewed with his mother who was present.

According to the police department, the boy responded saying he was picked up at his residence and driven to an apartment complex to get the third defendant.

He replied he was forced to shoot and kill on the victims by the 17-year-old boy. He said he was told to shoot the victim, or his family would be killed, according to the police precinct.

Friday morning Sheriff Bily Woods particularly greeted tribute to Ocala Police Department, the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the State Attorney's Office, and also the public and the media.

Statements from the State Attorney's Office will the State Attorney's Office prosecute the juveniles in adult court? Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie rejected to say on Friday.

"Our office and State Attorney (Bill) Gladson are in constant communication with Sheriff Woods and his detectives regarding this horrible crime and will aggressively pursue the prosecution of all the involved defendants," Forgie said. "Given that there is a remaining suspect that has not yet been apprehended, we are limited in what we can publicly comment on at this time. However, as I said, we will aggressively pursue the prosecution of all defendants responsible for these heinous crimes."

Sheriff's associates responded their agency had had minimal response with their defendants in the past.

Woods articulates onward to the mother of the two juvenile defendants who are in custody. He sympathized the expression in his voice with sincerity for them.

While Woods expressed shock and sadness, he also urged the public to help his agency find the third defendant. Anyone with information on the location of the third defendant is urged to call Detective Ryan Stith at (352) 368-3542, or the Sheriff's Office at (352) 732-9111. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-22 in your tip.